Too Cool To Care- 3 Misconceptions About Training For Aesthetics

In MetaPhysique Newsletter Edition #002, I talked about how—for years—I was pretty embarrassed by my physique.

And this was despite the fact that I was training six days a week and had been consistently lifting for over a decade.

Looking back, the root cause of this frustration was simple:

I was trying to be cool.

I thought it was uncool, unmanly, and just plain weak to care about how I looked.

But underneath all of that…I did care. A lot.

So I had to bury that desire and convince myself it didn’t matter.

I had to find a way to justify my mediocrity.

These three misconceptions helped me in that quest to justify—and I see them everywhere in the fitness world.

Let’s break them down.

Misconception #1: Form Follows Function

“If I perform like an athlete, the physique will follow.”

This one’s popular.

A lot of guys secretly want to look like a CrossFit Games athlete or an NFL wide receiver—but they don’t want to admit it.

So they tell themselves they “train like an athlete,” expecting the look to follow.

And then they’re disappointed when it doesn’t.

There’s a kernel of truth here: form does follow function—for a while.

During your first 1–3 years of consistent training, your body will change.

• If you start running or cycling, you’ll likely lose some weight.

• If you start lifting, you’ll likely gain some muscle.

But physique training isn’t about just “moving your body.”
It’s about two things:

1. Building muscle

2. Losing fat

After your newbie gains, both of those things require precision:

• Building muscle means intentionally managing training volume—specifically, the number of hard sets per week per body part.

• Losing fat means creating a consistent calorie deficit.

Just showing up to the gym doesn’t guarantee results.

Go look at any powerlifting gym, CrossFit box, or commercial gym. There are people in there who absolutely crush it—but barely look like they work out when they’re in street clothes.

Intentionality always beats randomness.

Misconception #2: Fat Loss Diets Take Over Your Life

This one kept me rocking a gentleman’s paunch way longer than it should’ve.

I told myself that calorie counting was obsessive. That tracking food was neurotic. That to lose fat, you had to live like a monk.

And sure—there’s some truth in there.

Fat loss does require effort. It takes planning, awareness, and a bit of restraint.

But…you’re a grown-ass man, right? You didn’t expect dramatic change with zero effort, did you?

Obsessive? Not really.

Tracking my food takes maybe 7 minutes per day—including:

• Logging meals in MyFitnessPal

• Weighing food on a scale

Here’s the thing: food takes up time no matter what.

Whether you eat to look like a Greek statue or eat your way into a mobility scooter by 50, you still have to plan and prep food.

The only additional work required for fat loss is:

• Learning how to track your food

• Learning to cook high-protein meals you enjoy

• Navigating social situations without sabotaging your progress

Misconception #3: Training for Aesthetics Makes You Weak or Injury-Prone

This idea exploded during the “functional fitness” craze of the early 2000s:

It’s complete nonsense.

If you want to max your deadlift or play a sport, great—train specifically for that.

But physique training is simple:

• Moderate weights

• Moderate reps

• High weekly volume

It’s not dangerous. It doesn’t make you weak. And in fact, it builds resilience.

Most injuries in the gym don’t happen during hypertrophy training.
They happen during max-effort strength work—the kind of training people falsely associate with “functional” or “real” strength.

Here’s what I do:

• I train 3–4 days per week for muscle growth.

• I also train for mobility and athleticism during those sessions.

• I roll jiu jitsu 2–3x per week.

• I run a few good old-fashioned foot races every year.

Plenty of people are putting the pieces together in ways that serve both aesthetics and performance.

Bonus Misconception:

There’s one more myth about aesthetics that deserves its own post.

If you liked this one, check out:
👉Abs Don’t Matter: Leaner Is NOT Always Better

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